Eagles free-agent wide receiver Jeremy Maclin didn't play a snap in 2013 after tearing his ACL in training camp but averaged 64 catches, 863 yards and six TDs since being drafted in 2009.
Jeremy Maclin is a free-agent to be and he understands that his ruptured ACL suffered in training camp last summer will play a factor in his negotiations and that if it means coming back to Philadelphia, he'd even accept a one-year deal.
"I understand it could be a possibility that [the ACL tear] may scare some teams off, or a team may want to do a one-year deal as opposed to a long-term contract," Maclin told CSN's Derrick Gunn in an exclusive interview Monday. "That's the game, that's the business."
Maclin did not play a single snap in 2013 and maintained at the opening of camp that he refused to hold out and hoped that his production on the field would lend itself to a big-money, long-term contract with either the Eagles or somewhere else on the open market at the end of the season.
Obviously, that scenario never had a chance to play itself out.
Having a first-round pedigree certainly elevates Maclin's value.
Since becoming the 19th pick in the 2009 draft, Maclin has posted 426 receptions for 3,453 yards and 26 touchdowns.
After hauling in seven touchdowns in 2012, there was plenty of optimism about the kind of production Maclin is capable of in Chip Kelly's high octane offensive attack.
Coming off of his injury, though, Maclin may not get the benefit of long-term stability out of this round of negotiations and may find himself in the same position he was this summer, looking for a long-term deal by signing a one-year contract in March.
"Both sides have had talks," Maclin said about returning to the Eagles. "I respect [GM] Howie [Roseman]. I understand this is a business, I understand he has to look out for what's best for the organization, and that's what he's supposed to do. I have all the faith that he's going to do what's best for the organization, whether that's deciding to keep me there or moving in another direction. I'm a realist, I understand that's a possibility.
"For a team that wants to give me a one-year deal, that's cool, I'll just go out there and ball out, do the things I think I can do. Hopefully get that type of deal I'm looking for. If a team wants to give me a long-term deal, I'll go out there and still do the same thing."
Whether it's Roseman and the Eagles, or another team across the league, Maclin's injury will play a factor. However, the 25-year old says he feels ahead of schedule in his recovery.
"I'm in a good spot," Maclin said. "I believe, I have faith and physically I'm in very good shape. If you go by the standard timeline, I'm ahead of schedule. I'm out there running, cutting a little bit and just continuing to get myself ready."
Matt Lombardo is the Editor-In-Chief of Eagledelphia and also an on-air personality on 97.5 FM The Fanatic in Philadelphia. Join the conversation and follow Matt on Twitter.
